IRAN DEVELOPS ATTACK HELICOPTER

LONDON [MENL] -- Iran has been developing an attack helicopter with Western
assistance.

Industry sources said Iran has been developing and testing a multi-mission
combat helicopter. The helicopter, dubbed Shahed, has been equipped with
engines from Britain and Canada as well as sensors from France.

"This is regarded as a major military industry project and uses dual-use
Western components," an industry source familiar with the program said.

Iran's Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center plans to produce several
variants of Shahed, the sources said. The first platform was the OH-78,
described as a light reconnaissance helicopter and armed with weapons and
sensors. Test flights of the OH-78 began in 2005.
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